Microservers Powered by Intel

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Microservers Powered by Intel® Xeon® and Intel® Atom™ Processors

The right solutions for lightweight, scale-out workloads

Microservers are an emerging form factor of servers designed to process lightweight, scale out workloads for hyper-scale data centers. Typical workloads suited for microservers include static web page serving, entry dedicated hosting, and basic content delivery, among others. Because of the microserver’s high-density and energy-efficient design, its infrastructure (including the fan and power supply) can be shared by tens or even hundreds of physical server nodes,1 eliminating the space and power consumption demands of duplicate infrastructure components. Even within the microserver category, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to system design or processor choice. Some microservers may have high-performing single-socket processors with robust memory and storage, while others may have a far higher number of miniature dense configurations with lower power and relatively lower compute capacity per node.

To meet the full breadth of these requirements, Intel provides a range of processor options from the smaller to the larger end of the spectrum so companies can select what’s appropriate for their lightweight scale out workloads. The Intel® Xeon® processor E3 family offers a choice of node performance, performance per watt, and flexibility. The Intel® Atom™ processor C2000 product family provides extreme low power and higher density compared to Intel Xeon processor E3 family-based microservers.

Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1200 V3 Product Family

Optimized performance per watt for microservers.12

With up to 60%13 better performance per watt and up to 24%14 lower power than the previous generation Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 v2 product family, the Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1200 v3 product family for microservers lets you scale out your web services while scaling down your power consumption. At just 13W, the Intel® Xeon® processor E3-1220L v3 product is ideal for microservers. In addition to data center-class capabilities, such as x86 compatibility, 64-bit architecture, ECC memory, virtualization support Intel® Xeon® processor E3 v3 family provides:

Intel® Atom™ Processor C2000 Product Family

Extreme low power for high-density microservers.

Need microservers that are big on density and energy efficiency? The new Intel® Atom™ processor C2000 product family allows you to maximize rack space and reduce energy costs with microservers for certain lightweight scale-out workloads.7

What’s New?

The Intel Atom processor C2000 product family is Intel’s second generation 8-core, 64-bit Intel® Atom™ SoC. It provides up to 7x higher performance189 and 8x more memory capacity, plus up to 6x11011 better power efficiency, enabling greater density as compared to the Intel® Atom™ processor S1200 product family. The Intel Atom processor C2000 product family also provides data center–class features, allowing you to:

Which One is Better?

You may ask, "Which is going to be better, Xeon E3 v3 or Atom C2000 product family?" The answer depends on the application and usage. The usage model, the data center power envelope, and the system type are all key factors. For example, Intel Xeon processor E3 v3 family-based platforms may be better suited for webscale workloads, for which a highly-dense infrastructure that doesn't compromise on performance space is ideal. These platforms may also be better suited for usages that require professional graphics performance such as media, cloud or online gaming and desktop virtualization. On the other hand, Intel Atom processor C2000 product family-based platforms could be well suited for lightweight scale-out workloads that require extreme high density and energy efficiency such as entry dedicated hosting, basic content delivery, low-end front end web and distributed memory caching.

Product and Performance Information

1

Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information go to http://www.intel.com/performance.

Results have been measured by Intel based on software, benchmark or other data of third parties and are provided for informational purposes only. Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance. Intel does not control or audit the design or implementation of third party data referenced in this document. Intel encourages all of its customers to visit the websites of the referenced third parties or other sources to confirm whether the referenced data is accurate and reflects performance of systems available for purchase.

2

Intel does not control or audit the design or implementation of third party benchmarks or websites referenced in this document. Intel encourages all of its customers to visit the referenced websites or others where similar performance benchmarks are reported and confirm whether the referenced benchmarks are accurate and reflect performance of systems available for purchase.

No system can provide absolute security. Intel® Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) requires a computer system with an Intel® AES-NI-enabled processor, as well as software to execute the instructions in the correct sequence. Intel® Secure Key requires an Intel® Secure Key-enabled platform, available on select Intel® processors, and software optimized to support Intel® Secure Key. Consult your system manufacturer for more information and availability.

Results have been estimated based on internal Intel analysis and are provided for informational purposes only. Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance.